Fighting for investment ... and interest
Strong showing vital for city men’s side during Premier Cup battle in Oman
Hong Kong head coach Simon Willis says a strong performance at the ACC Premier Cup in Oman is imperative to stimulate investment and interest in local cricket.
The city’s team open their campaign against Qatar today. Saudi Arabia, Nepal and Malaysia complete Hong Kong’s group, with the top two advancing to next Friday’s semi-finals.
The prize for winning the 10-team T20 competition, which features the continent’s top eight associate nations, is a spot at next year’s Asia Cup.
Willis, appointed 13 months ago, is keen for more elite facilities in the city. He revealed that during a trio of Premier Cup warm-up games against United Arab Emirates, a succession of Hong Kong batsmen perished “caught on the boundary, whereas in Hong Kong, the grounds are smaller, and it is easier to hit it over the rope”.
That scenario was envisaged by Tatenda Taibu, the former Zimbabwe test captain, who is head coach of the Papua New Guinea team that last month won a tri-series at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, one of only three cricket grounds in Hong Kong with a grass wicket.
“You become used to mishitting balls for six, then you go to a bigger ground, and the same shot gets you out,” Taibu said.
Cricket Hong Kong, China (CHK) is not in receipt of funding from the Hong Kong Sports Institute, although it will have a case for that to change following the sport’s inclusion at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The organisation’s website currently invites sponsorship of individual players, priced at HK$3,000 per month, and separately “strongly encourages” potential commercial partners to contact the local cricket body.
The global governing body International Cricket Council’s revenue-sharing model for the 2024-27 cycle granted only 11.5 per cent of its roughly US$600 million annual takings to the 94 associate nations. That amounts to around US$718,085 annually going to Hong Kong cricket.
“A winning team raises eyebrows, and we need to increase interest in the sport in Hong Kong,” Willis said.
“If we can do that and get the government and others to help us along the way, particularly with the Olympics to come, it will be a very good thing for our cricket.
“Hong Kong and the mainland value Olympic sports, so cricket’s inclusion is very positive. From our point of view, it would be great to have further investment and backing in the future.”
A sickness bug that hit the camp in UAE, combined with injuries, left Willis sweating over availability of four players. Reluctant to declare his hand to a Qatar side that Hong Kong recently beat in a tight threematch series, he withheld names of those facing late fitness tests.
Of particular satisfaction from the UAE friendlies was that Hong Kong conceded only six extras across three matches. They haemorrhaged extras in last year’s Premier Cup, including 23 in the defeat by Kuwait that sealed their group-stage exit.
“We have been working on that [eradicating extras] for around six months,” Willis said. The guys are growing in confidence and trusting themselves.”
Firecracker 16-year-old batter Shiv Mathur was not included in Hong Kong’s 14-man squad. “We need to look after Shiv and develop him at the right pace, and he is closer to [selection for] 50-over cricket than T20 at this time,” Willis said.
One intriguing inclusion is Raunaq Kapur, the 20-year-old off-spin bowler, who was 2017-18 Hong Kong Junior Cricketer of the Year, but is currently playing for Canterbury in New Zealand.
“He made me aware a while ago he was keen to play for Hong Kong,” Willis said. “He is a tall lad for a spinner, gets good revs on the ball, and good bounce out of the wicket.”
A winning team raises eyebrows. We need to increase interest in the sport in Hong Kong SIMON WILLIS, HONG KONG HEAD COACH